Photo Credit: Press Association
Maria Sharapova came forward to announce that she failed a drug test at the Australia Open and is “taking full responsibility”. Sharapova tested positive for the drug meldonium which is commonly prescribed for issues with blood vessels. Sharapova admitted that she has been taking the drug for the past ten years and was prescribed it by a family doctor. John Haggerty, Sharapova’s lawyer, has been in contact with the International Tennis Foundation about reducing her punishment.
Sharapova believes that she has a good chance at getting the suspension lessened as this has never been on the World’s Anti-Doping Agency’s list before. “It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on Wada’s banned list and I had been legally taking that medicine for the past 10 years,” she said. She is currently suspended indefinitely starting March 12th, pending further action.
